RLA Pastor's blog

I will be preparing to leave the house for the day. After gathering all of my stuff before heading out the door, I will have the sudden feeling that something is missing. But what is it? I will go through a mental checklist that goes something like this: keys, billfold, checkbook, sunglasses, coffee, etc. That’s when it will hit me. I laid down my keys somewhere in the house, or I left my cup of coffee on the kitchen counter, or I forgot to pick up my sunglasses (a necessity of life in SW Florida).

Has that ever happened to you? You know something is missing, but what?

That’s the question that weighed on the mind of the Rich Young Ruler. In his spiritual quest for eternal life, he approached Jesus asking, “What must I do?” Jesus told him. Running down the checklist of requirements the young man thought, “I’ve done all of these.” That’s whenit occurredtohimsomethingwasmissing. HeaskedJesus, “WhatdoIstilllack?”(Matthew 19:20).

There are times in life when you’ve done everything you know to do in a given situation. You’ve crossed all the “T’s” and dotted all the “I’s”. You’ve done it all, but it doesn’t seem to be enough. The situation doesn’t change. The mountain doesn’t move. That’s when you feel compelled to ask with the Rich Young Ruler, “What do I still lack?”

There are other times when you know something is lacking in your walk with the Lord. Have you been there? You read the list of the Fruit of the Spirit (Gal. 5:22-23) and discover that an attribute like peace, endurance, or self-control is currently missing from your life. Maybe you are coming up short concerning one of the ten laws for living (Exodus 20:2-17). Or you might realize a certain spiritual discipline has gone dormant in your faith walk.

It’s encouraging to remember Jesus didn’t ignore the Rich Young Ruler’s question when he asked, “What do I still lack?” He told the young man, “One thing you lack” (Mark 10:21). Jesus identified the issue. He will do the same for us because He desires to perfect that which is lacking in our faith (1 Thessalonians 3:10). Jesus doesn’t condemn us when we confess something is lacking. He addresses the issue for the sake of correction. The Lord’s will is that we would “lack nothing” (1 Thessalonians 4:12).​

Does it seem like your spiritual life is misfiring somewhere? Do you sense that something is missing? Then ask the Lord about it. “What do I still lack?” It’s an honest question that will receive an honest answer. Then you will know the truth, and the truth will make you free (John 8:32).

He was a young man full of enthusiasm who came running to meet Jesus that day. All outward indications were promising. Falling to his knees he asked a question that must have brought a smile to the Lord’s face. Out of breath from his exertion he asked, “Good Teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?” (Mark 10:17) Most young people are consumed with the here and now. The fact this young man was thinking seriously about eternity was to his credit.

Jesus began by walking through the commandments. Eternal life without obedience to God is impossible. You get the feeling that in his haste the young man might have interrupted Jesus saying, “I’ve obeyed all these commandments since I was young” (v20).

Fixing his eyes on the youth, abounding love poured from Jesus’ heart as He said, “One thing you lack. Go your way, sell whatever you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, take up the cross, and follow Me” (v21).

A few key words hit the young man with the force of a sledge hammer. Sell? Give? Cross?

As he contemplated their meaning, his countenance fell. Gone was the burning enthusiasm. Gone was the light flashing in his eyes. As the passion faded in his heart, he must have thought to himself, “I asked about eternal life. Who said anything about taking up a cross?” After an awkward moment of silence, without another word spoken, the young man turned and walked away from Jesus and off the pages of the Bible.

Crossless Christianity. It appears to be rampant today in a society fixated on self. Crossless Christianity downplays the cost of discipleship while focusing only on the rewards. It would be like an insurance salesman telling you about the benefits of a plan without ever mentioning the premiums. The Bible is clear. There is a cost. It’s called taking up your cross.

We know what that meant for the Rich Young Ruler. We also know he refused to do it. What it means for you and for me may be entirely different. But this I know — taking up the cross involves sacrifice. It involves total commitment. It involves giving. It involves an attitude of complete surrender that says, “Nevertheless not My will, but Yours, be done.”

Surely, there must be an easier way! So thought the Rich Young Ruler as he turned his back on Jesus. But there is only one way, and that’s the way of the cross. “Then Jesus said to His disciples, ‘If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me. For whoever desires to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake will find it’” (Matthew 16:24-25).

Don’t be fooled by the purveyors of cheap grace. The only Christianity taught in the Bible involves taking up your cross. But it doesn’t end there for us anymore than it did for Jesus. The cross always leads to the crown (2 Timothy 4:8).​

I wish the story of the Rich Young Ruler would have ended differently for him. Sadly, it didn’t. But our story can have a happy ending. So come on and let’s do what Jesus said. Count the cost. Pay the price. Take up the cross. Follow Him.

One of the basic features of American football is the huddle. Anyone who has watched the game knows what I’m talking about. After each down the team regroups to discuss and call the next play. On the offensive side of the ball, the huddle is led by the quarterback. On the defensive side it is usually led by one of the linebackers. The huddle is the norm. However, teams will sometimes opt for a no-huddle offense when they want to speed up the game, disrupt the defense, or score points fast. Rather than taking time to call the play in a huddle, the quarterback communicates to the team on the fly by use of signals or yelling certain words or numbers.

While the no-huddle offense may be an effective game plan on the football field, it’s a bad strategy for life. The demands of life and the schemes of the enemy are such that we cannot deal with them on our own. When tempted to go it alone, failure is inevitable. We need wisdom from above, and the help that only God can give.

Rather than attempting to live life on the fly, begin your morning with a “holy huddle.” Before rushing into the day’s activities, take time to hear from God. Begin by consulting God’s “play book.” By starting with God’s Word you allow the Holy Spirit to equip you in advance for the challenges of the day. Solomon spoke of this when he said, “Trust in the LORD with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will direct your paths” (Proverbs 3:5-6).

Along with starting the day with the Bible, remember to pray. Prayer is two-way communication with God. We not only talk to God in prayer, we hear from Him as well. In the huddle of prayer God speaks to our hearts and opens the eyes of our understanding to walk according to His plan.

Don’t make the mistake of thinking of your “holy huddle” as a once-a-day thing. As in a football game, there are multiple huddles. I encourage you to begin the day with God, spend the day with God, and end the day with God. The communication never stops. Like the blessed man of Psalm 1:2, meditate on and delight in God’s Word day and night. Like Paul in 1 Thessalonians 5:17, pray without ceasing.​

They talk about the “game of life.” Football is a game. Life is so much more. To avoid a crushing defeat, set aside a period of time to meet with God every day. Then practice the presence of God throughout the day. It’s a winning strategy.

I realize the title is bad grammar so let me rephrase it. Do you have peace?

In these days peace seems to be an elusive commodity. There is never a shortage of things to worry about. If you don’t have anything to worry about, the enemy of our souls stands ready to help you come up with something.

Around the year 64 AD the apostle Paul found himself in a Roman prison. If anyone had just cause for a little anxiety, it was Paul. While he sat in jail, adversaries of the gospel were trying to damage his ministry. Several of the churches started by Paul were undergoing major challenges. Add to that Paul’s uncertain future. Crazy Nero was on the throne. History records the atrocities committed by this Roman Emperor. Paul knew all too well what Nero was capable of.

And yet it was in this setting that Paul gave a timeless strategy for peace. Paul said this in Philippians 4:6-7, “Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.”

Those verses contain a biblical proposition and promise. Proposition: worry about nothing, pray about everything. Promise: the peace of God will guard your heart and mind. One word of caution. To continue to worry while you pray is to undermine the process and forfeit God’s peace. So start praying, stop worrying, and God’s peace will come.

Then notice what Paul went on to say, “Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things. Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me—put it into practice. And the God of peace will be with you” (Philippians 4:8-9).

There is no way a believer can live in peace when their thought life is messed up. Before going down an avenue of thought, run it through the checklist. Is it true? Is it noble (worthy)? Is it right? Is it pure? And so on. Be as discriminating with the thoughts you think as you are with the food you eat.

In old times a gang of thieves would put a young child through a small window so he could unlock and open the door. Oftentimes, entertaining one wrong thought can open the door to a whole gang of thoughts that steal your peace. But right thinking results in peace.

Got peace? If not, remember Paul’s points --

It’s important that you pray (Phil. 4:6-7)

It’s important how you think (Phil. 4:8-9)​

Remember and do this, and the God of peace will be with you in any and every situation.

The name of the city was Laish. It was located in the territory possessed by the northern tribe of Dan. The phrase “from Dan to Beersheba” was a familiar saying in Israel. It meant from the farthest point northward (Dan), to the farthest point southward (Beersheba). Dan was originally given territory just northwest of Judah, but the original allotment proved too small. So five Danite spies were sent farther north to locate additional land.

That’s when they stumbled upon the secluded city of Laish. Lazy Laish. Judges 18:7 says the people of Laish lived carefree lives. With no apprehension of danger, without the slightest thought of enemy attack, the people lived in what proved to be a false sense of security. What you don’t know can hurt you.

The text also indicates that Laish was ill-guarded. “They lived a long way from the Sidonians and had no relationship with anyone else.” Cut off from their Syrian neighbors to the north by Mount Hermon, and from the Sidonians to the West by the Lebanon range, Laish was totally isolated. But since the city was located in a fertile area along springs that fed into the Jordan River, an attitude of self-sufficiency was prevalent among its citizens.

All of that changed in Judges 18:27 when the enemy launched a surprise attack, killing the inhabitants and burning the city. Laish was an easy target because along with the carefree attitudes of the people, verse 28 says, “there was no deliverer, because it was far from Sidon, and they had no ties with anyone.” They cared for nobody and therefore, in their hour of crisis, nobody cared for them.

Satan loves it when Christians isolate themselves and fail to connect with a local church. He is delighted by Christians who have a Laish-like-go-it-alone attitude. The enemy zeroes in with glee on those who lack ties to the Body of Christ. Living far from the fellowship of believers, secure in their isolation, and with no apprehension of pending danger, these disconnected saints become easy pickings.

This self-inflicted defeat is easily avoidable. How? By taking seriously the instruction of Hebrews 10:25, “Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as is the manner of some.” Don’t be like some who pride themselves on having no ties with any church. Don’t join the ranks of “the done’s” who profess a relationship with Jesus, but have divorced themselves from His Church. ​

Run from Laish-minded Christians. Get connected. Get involved. Be faithful. Build relationships. Immerse yourself in the fellowship of God’s people. Hang out with believers who love the Church of Jesus Christ. When the hour of need comes, you will not find yourself isolated and alone. Rather, you will experience the love and support that comes from being actively connected to a strong family of faith.

It was a nightmare of a marriage from the start. She was a wife unloved by her husband. His heart belonged to another, and it always would. He was an unsuspecting groom tricked into the marriage by the bride’s father, a devious old schemer named Laban. Caught in the web of a polygamous triangle, she was destined to live the rest of her life as the woman love forgot. In spite of this, Leah genuinely loved Jacob and would remain true to him until death dissolved their sad union.

Leah was nice, but her sister Rachel was drop-dead gorgeous. While Rachel owned Jacob’s heart, Leah was having his babies. A lot of them! The first was Reuben, whose name means “Behold a son.” Leah chose the name saying, “The Lord has surely looked on my affliction. Now therefore, my husband will love me” (Genesis 29:32). Then came Simeon which means “Hearing,” for Leah said, “Because the Lord has heard that I am unloved, He has therefore given me this son also” (Genesis 29:33). Despite the fact she had given Jacob two sons, Leah failed to capture her husband’s love.​

Then the third son was born, and his mother named him Levi meaning “Joined.” Leah reasoned, “Now this time my husband will become attached to me, because I have borne him three sons” (Genesis 29:34). That’s a tall order to place on any child — to be the means by which your parents are united in a loving relationship. Unfortunately, it didn’t work. Levi the joiner failed to live up to his name. Jacob and Leah died as they had lived.

Later in the Old Testament we learn that from Levi’s descendants came the priestly tribe of Israel. They offered sacrifices on behalf of the people in an effort to unite them to a holy God. The attempts of the Levitical priesthood were more successful than those of their dear, departed ancestor, but still incomplete.

And then we turn to the pages of the New Testament where we read about the birth of another Son. The prophet Isaiah spoke of this Son when he wrote, “For unto us a Child is born, unto us a Son is given…and His name will be called…Prince of Peace” (Isaiah 9:6). Mary’s Son would succeed where Leah’s son failed. This Son would be the ultimate Joiner, Uniter, Peacemaker, and Mediator,“For there is one God and one Mediator between God and men, the Man Christ Jesus” (1 Timothy 2:5).

Through Jesus Christ and His death at Calvary, we can be joined in right relationship with the Father. The Bible word is reconciliation, and it signifies the broken relationship is now healed. Christ has the ability to heal our relationship with God, and our relationships with people. A broken marriage. An estranged child. A wounded friendship. All can find healing in Jesus.

Where Levi and his descendants fell short, Christ succeeded! And He did so for you and for me.

Imagine a patient sitting in a doctor’s office awaiting the results of a recent medical test. It has been obvious to the patient for quite some time that something is seriously wrong. But what?!That is the troubling question.

After what seems like an eternity of waiting, the door opens the door and enters holding a file overflowing with test results and x-rays. He sits down and with a grave look on his face utters the word the patient dreads to hear. The test results are conclusive — cancer!

After the initial shock subsides, the doctor explains that without treatment death is a certainty. But there is hope! A breakthrough miracle cure has been found. It is a dynamic pill that contains all the ingredients necessary to neutralize and obliterate the cancer. Furthermore, this pill has a 100% success rate. It has never failed when used. It is a guaranteed cure, and it’s free!

The doctor begins to write the prescription when the patient informs him, “I have plenty of pills at home. If it’s just a pill I need, any old pill will do.” The doctor lays down his pen and explains, “But any old pill will not do. There is no pill in all the world like this. It alone has the ability to cure.” The patient persists, “Don’t be so narrow minded. Your pill may work for others, but I am certain I can find a pill that will work for me.” And with that the patient gets up and walks out of the office.

Religious pluralism is the belief that when it comes to salvation “any old pill will do.” For one person it may be Jesus. For another person it may be one of the world religions. For yet another person it may be belief in their own human goodness. And for still another, it may be faith in somemysticalhigherpower.PluralismsaysallbeliefsystemsarevalidandallroadsleadtoGod.

In contrast to religious pluralism stands “exclusivism” which teaches there is only one true religion and way to God. The Bible rejects outright the notion of pluralism and repeatedly declares the exclusive claims of the gospel. Jesus spoke the truth when He said, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me” (John 14:6). The gospel that is exclusive in its approach to God is inclusive in its invitation to all. While no one can come to the Father except through Christ, everyone may come through Him!

Someone may ask, “Isn’t it the height of arrogance for Christians to claim that Christ is the only way?” Not at all. It’s no more arrogant for a Christian to say Christ is the only way than for a doctor to say a certain medicine is the only cure for a particular disease. It isn’t an issue of arrogance, but of truth. Only the gospel provides a true antidote to the problem of sin.

One writer noted, “If there had been any other way for mankind to be forgiven, Jesus would not have died. It is this fact alone - the necessary sacrificial death of the Son of God on the cross - that separates Christianity from all other religions.”

So don’t be fooled by all the sweet talk of pluralism. To promote religious pluralism is spiritual malpractice. When it comes to sin, there is only one cure. And when it comes to salvation, there is only one name. “Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to mankind by which we must be saved” (Acts 4:12).

This Sunday at RLA --

I am looking forward to seeing you this Sunday at 9:30AM as we continue our series on ETERNITY. In this series we’ve learned that God put eternity in the human heart (Ecc. 3:11). We’ve also talked about Heaven and Hell and how everyone will live forever in one of those two locations. Eternal destiny depends on what a person does with Jesus in this life. This Sunday we are going to wrap up the series by looking at two basic questions concerning eternal life.

Plan now to join us this Sunday, and bring someone with you who needs to hear the message.

Did you know you have a prearranged court date in eternity? Your case is already on the docket of an undisclosed date. The court records are being filed. The time and location have been set. The judge is ready, awaiting your arrival.

There is no way of knowing how long your day in court will last. It doesn’t really matter since the realm in which this court is held is beyond time. What we do know is that your case will not involve multiple appearances. Just one. The decision made by the judge will be final. There is no process of appeal, and no higher court to which an appeal could even be made. This is it! One day. One court. One judge. One decision…for all eternity.

2 Corinthians 5:10 is a Bible verse we should read often, “For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each of us may receive what is due us for the things done while in the body, whether good or bad” (1 Corinthians 5:10 NIV).

While eternal life is God’s gift of grace to the redeemed (Romans 6:23), heavenly rewards are another matter. Eternal life is given. Eternal rewards are earned. I will spend eternity in heaven as a result of believing in Jesus. But my eternal rewards are based on what I do for Jesus.

While all believers will spend eternity in heaven, not all believers will share the same rewards. The purpose of the Judgment Seat of Christ is not to determine your right to enter heaven. The very fact you are there is proof that heaven is your eternal home. The Judgment Seat of Christ is about determining the degree of eternal reward, and that is based solely and completely on what is done for Christ in this life.

My purpose in writing this article is not to frighten you, but to motivate you. Knowing what is coming should motivate us to live for and invest in the eternal.

I believe that is how Paul lived. From what we know of Paul in the Bible, he did not get sidetracked with the things of this life. Worldly ambitions did not move him off target. I believe Paul lived each day under the constant awareness of his court date in eternity. He knew he was going to stand before Jesus and give an account for his life. I believe this, in part, explains his missionary zeal. He went on to explain in 2 Corinthians 5:11, “Since, then, we know what it is to fear the Lord, we try to persuade others.”

While the idea of the Judgment Seat of Christ may be an ominous thought for some, it doesn’t have to be. Not now. Not while you can do something about it. So do something about it. Let the knowledge of an approaching court date in eternity inspire you to live differently. Let it influence your decision-making. Let it shape your calendar and arrange your priorities. Let it prompt you to set your heart on things above (Colossians 3:3).

Decide now to live each and every day for the eternal.

This Sunday at RLA --

I am looking forward to seeing you this Sunday at 9:30AM as we continue our series on ETERNITY. Last week we learned about a wonderful place Jesus has prepared for those who love Him. It’s a place called Heaven. Just as Heaven exists, so does Hell. This Sunday’s message will focus on this place called Hell and the fact we are all born with pre-made reservations. Something must be done, and I will tell you what that something is this Sunday.

I encourage you to bring someone to church who needs to hear the message.

His name was Stephanas, and he was an addict. Not only was Stephanas an addict, his family shared his addiction. The apostle Paul felt compelled to reveal this condition to the church in Corinth. Stephanas and his family were members of that church. They were professing Christians. Paul had even baptized the whole lot of them. And now here they were, a household of addicts.

Relax. Their’s was not an addiction to drugs or alcohol. Stephanas and his family were not hooked on some destructive substance like nicotine, or nefarious activity like gambling. Actually, they were addicted to ministry! Paul reported, “They have addicted themselves to the ministry of the saints” (1 Corinthians 16:15 KJV).

At first glance, we might accuse Stephanas of being a workaholic. You know the type. These are people who drive themselves into the ground because of their overwhelming compulsion to work for the sake of work. Stephanas was not a workaholic. His addiction to ministry was fueled by love — love for God and for God’s people.

This is more clearly seen when you understand the meaning behind the words translated “addiction” (devoted, committed), and “ministry” (service). In his commentary on 1 Corinthians, John MacArthur noted, “One of the surest ways we can serve Christ is to serve the saints on His behalf” (Matthew 25:34-40). That was Stephanas and family. They did what they did out of genuine love for the Lord and His people.

Having pastored for a number of years, I have noticed two types of people in church: those who live to be served, and those who live to serve. The household of Stephanas lived to serve. That does not mean ministry was their profession. There is no indication that they served on the pastoral staff in Corinth. They were members of the church who were fully committed to serving their fellow believers in the Body of Christ.

In doing research for this article, I found very little written about Stephanas. I have several books on biblical characters and heroes of the faith. Strangely enough, Stephanas was mentioned in passing in only a few. How ironic that a man pointed out by Paul for service is overlooked. Maybe that is why, at the conclusion of his letter, Paul reminded the Corinthian church of the family of Stephanas and their devotion to ministry. Maybe they had even forgotten.

Sometimes that’s the way it goes. People who give their lives in service and ministry to others can go without much recognition. But if they have the heart of a Stephanas, it really doesn’t matter. With or without recognition, they will continue to serve faithfully.

I may be describing you in this article. Maybe you are one of the faithful few (the 20% who do 80% of the work) addicted to serving in ministry. It may be a visible ministry of leadership. It may be an invisible ministry of helps. Regardless, you serve day in and day out because of your love for God and His people. You stay at it because you are following the example of the One who did not come to be served, but to serve (Mark 10:45).

In case you have not heard it lately, let me say Thank You! Thank you for your devotion to ministry. Remember that nothing done for the Lord is ever forgotten, or goes unrewarded. A crown awaits you in heaven. Just ask Stephanas, the man whose name means Crowned.

This Sunday at RLA --

I am looking forward to seeing you this Sunday at 9:30AM as we continue our series on ETERNITY. Last week we learned that God has put eternity in our hearts (Ecclesiastes 3:11). Everyone will spend forever somewhere. One of those “somewhere” places is Heaven. In Sunday’s message we are going to talk about this place called Heaven.

I encourage you to bring someone to church who needs to hear the message. I pray they will respond and make Heaven their eternal home.​

“It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery” (Galatians 5:1 NIV).

Christian liberty is a great theme of the New Testament. Who doesn’t love the idea of freedom? Unfortunately, this great Bible subject has been met with confusion at times; even abuse. The confusion/abuse arises from the definition of freedom. Simply put, is Christian liberty the freedom to live the way God wants me to live, or the way I want to live?

Those who would argue for the latter claim to support their position with Paul’s statement at the end of Romans 6:14, “For you are not under the law but under grace.” The argument is that since we are not under the law (the Law of Moses), the righteous requirements of the law no longer apply to New Testament Christians. And since we are under grace, our sins are covered past, present, and future. The result is a very sloppy form of Christianity that lives no differently than the world under the banner of “grace”.

Those who define Christian liberty as the freedom to live the way God wants us to live quickly point out the context of Paul’s statement in Romans 6:14b. Before Paul said, “For you are not under the law but under grace,” he said, “For sin shall not have dominion over you.” Not only that, but the entire context of Romans 6 is living holy lives that are separated from sin.

Rather than looking at grace as some sort of get-out-of-jail-free card that allows us to sin with impunity, Paul presents grace as the empowerment of God not to sin. At salvation God does not take away our ability to sin. He gives us the power not to sin!

As slaves to sin we were under the power of sin. Sin is what we did because it’s who we were. We were sinners by nature, and therefore by practice. But grace changed that. As the servants of God, we are now free to serve the Lord and live the way He wants us to live.

Christian liberty is not the freedom to live the way I want. It’s the freedom to live the way I should. It’s the freedom to live the way I was created and designed to live. Sin is against life and will always result in a breakdown. So one good reason to do what is right today is tomorrow, because sin has consequences. Another very good reason is eternity. It’s what we actually do, not say, that determines our eternal destiny (Matthew 7:21).

Do not mistake being under grace for something that it’s not. It is not license to continue dabbling or living in sin. It is the power of God to conquer what once conquered you, and live from that point on in the freedom for which Christ has made you free.

I am looking forward to seeing you this Sunday as we begin our new series on ETERNITY. This Sunday’s message is titled Eternity In Their Hearts and is based on Ecclesiastes 3:11. The theme is that God created everyone to live forever. The question is not, “Will I live forever?” but, “Where will I spend eternity?”

I encourage you to bring someone to church Sunday who needs to hear this message. I guarantee that the opportunity will be given for them to respond.